IMC Hawks Blog

Tag: Super Bowl

  • Who Dat Nation

    With Super Bowl XLIV reaching nearly 100 million viewers, it’s easy to say that football encompasses a large part of American society, and even contributes to how Americans identify themselves. This may be the reason why we usually have one team that is given the title “America’s Team.” For several years this team was known to be the Dallas Cowboys; but in light of recent events, the New Orleans Saints now have the esteemed title.

    After all that New Orleans endured following Hurricane Katrina nearly four and a half years ago, the team as well as the city has made a lot of progress. It was hard not to be excited for the Saints as they played in their first Super Bowl. Fans seemed to come from everywhere, with most of the country offering their support. According to Rasmussen Reports, 54 percent of people who participated in a national survey wanted to see the Saints win, even though only 38 percent thought they actually would win.

    In an Associated Press article, Colts safety Antoine Bethea was quoted, “There’s a reason America is pulling for New Orleans, and why wouldn’t they? They’ve been through a lot. Sports tend to pull people together, so it’s commendable for New Orleans to be, as I guess you’d say, America’s Team right now.”

    Quarterback Drew Brees has contributed to the Saints image as a community-oriented team through his work in several reconstruction projects. In a Reuters article, Brees said about the game, “Our city, our fans, give us strength, we owe this to them — to Saints fans all over the country, and I think we might have gained some after yesterday.”

    Nicole Doherty

    Stephanie Saulsbury

    Lacey Inman

  • Happiness Hits

    Coca-Cola’s launch of their “Open Happiness” social media campaign has successfully raised over $64,000 for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America by allowing users of the social network, Facebook, to send virtual gifts through the site. For every gift sent, Coca-Cola donates $1 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Coca-Cola hopes to raise $250,000 with this campaign.  Once the Facebook gift is given, the gift giver receives a 20-second sneak preview of one of the two Coca-Cola Super Bowl advertisements. The gift is also posted on the receiver’s profile, and provides a link to the Coca-Cola fan page where others can send gifts. One of the Super Bowl advertisements features characters from The Simpsons while the features actor Denzel Washington. “Open Happiness” is a part of Live Positively.

    In January, Coca-Cola released a viral video on Youtube.com titled “Happiness Machine.” The video now has over 1,000,000 views, and they continue to rise as word spreads globally. The “Happiness Machine” is a Coca-Cola vending machine that delivers anything from multiple coke bottles to a colossal sub sandwich! This “Happiness Machine” dovetails perfectly with their “Open Happiness” campaign, which they have launched globally.

    Shortly after the Super Bowl, Coca-Cola is expected to sweep headlines with their sustainability plans for the winter Olympics in Vancouver. Coke will aim to make everything eco-friendly and produce “zero waste.” For example, the coolers they use will run on eKOfresh technology, which nearly eliminates direct greenhouse gas emissions. The vehicles they use to deliver beverages from their facilities will run on diesel-electric hybrid energy. Electric carts will be used within the venue. The tables and chairs will be made from wood salvaged from the pine-beetle epidemic in British Columbia, menu boards will be made of recycled materials, and the list continues.

    With Coca-Cola leading the “beverage battle,”  Pepsi will have a challenge with its new “Pepsi Refresh Project” campaign.

    Rachel Kaylor, Writer
    Danielle Murray, Researcher
    Mandy Baker, Designer

  • A Lesson in the Art of Persuasion: Tim Tebow’s Controversial Super Bowl Ad

    This year’s recipe for Super Bowl Sunday:  the Colts versus the Saints, chicken wings, Carrie Underwood and Bud Light.  Good football, good food, good lookin’ women and booze—perfection—until Tim Tebow and his mother grace the presence of your 52 inch, high definition flat screen talking about anti-abortion and the importance of family values.  Needless to say, the irony of it all will leave you…well, it may be a buzz kill.

    Despite the current economic state, CBS has sold out of commercial advertisement airtime for Super Bowl XLIV.  However, there are a number of big name corporations such as Pespi, General Motors and Fedex who’ve decided against dropping $2 million and some change for a 30-second ad during America’s most watched sporting event of the year.  Yet many are questioning the motives behind CBS’s approval of the Tebow’s anti-abortion ad.

    Is the network just in it for the money, or are they simply embracing their conservatism?  Either way, CBS is getting sacked left and right from pro-choice organizations whom are not at all pleased the decision.  Regardless of the network’s motives, the real threat to these disgruntled pro-choice groups is not that Tim Tebow, the youngest Heisman Trophy winner ever, is endorsing pro-life and family values.  It is that Tim Tebow, the youngest Heisman Trophy winner ever, is endorsing pro-life and family values with more than a slew of stats to back him up.

    The conservative christian group, Focus on the Family, is sponsoring the ad in hopes to spread the message, “Celebrate family, Celebrate life.”  The Tebows are the perfect poster family for this message seeing as Tim Tebow would not be here today if his mother, Pam, had followed doctor recommendations and gotten an abortion because her pregnancy with Tim was high-risk.  The ad does not mention abortion, although the underlying message is obvious; however, the persuasion tactics used in this ad are, hypothetically speaking, money.

    Rhetorical theory 101: ethos, pathos and logos.

    Tebow’s endorsement of this message is powerful and frankly, is very threatening to those who support women having the right to choose.  On Sunday, for those 30 seconds that this ad airs, audiences nationwide are going to stop, put down their beers and listen to what this well-respected and talented athlete has to say.  People trust Tim Tebow.  He is a credible source, with a logical message and an emotional appeal that will more than likely bring tears to hundreds of eyes.

    However, the bottom line here is not pro-life, pro-choice or even family values.  It is the strength of the strategy behind this advertisement.  The message is controversial and will grab the audiences’ attention.  The ad is airing during the Super Bowl, so there is no doubt viewership will be in the millions.  And the message is convincing because it is an outline of the art of persuasion with an emphasis on emotion, but does not lack in credibility and logic.  So screw the football, chicken, babes and beer.  Tim Tebow’s endorsement may be the closest thing to perfection we may find this Sunday.

    Laura Ann Klinedinst